Storm Tracker

As of 9:00 am Monday, May 16:

East Melick Road closed at Essex Road.

East Melick Road is closed 600m north of the Portier bridge. 

Highway 658, North of Basket Lake Bridge, is fully closed due to water over the road.

Gordon Lake Road, west of McIntosh Road closed due to the increased flow of water through the Forest Lake dam.

Highway 105, from Highway 17 to Highway 609, is fully closed due to water over the road.

It has been a spring for the ages, from the over 300 cm of snow the area got this winter, to the heavy rainfall already received this spring, which has caused severe flooding conditions in the region.

In the last week, several roadways and highways have closed due to flooding or a washout, cutting off residents to various communities.

The City of Kenora has issued an alert for all roads north of the Kenora by-pass as water levels continue to rise.

City officials have now issued a flood watch for Carlton Road, Anderson Branch Road and Peterson Road as city road patrollers are concerned with rising water levels in these areas as well.

Citizens should closely monitor the water levels on roads they travel in these areas, as the watch could be escalated to a recommended evacuation or evacuation order at any time.

East Melick Road at Essex Road is now closed as floodwaters overtake many roads north of the Kenora by-pass.

Yesterday, the City of Kenora issued an evacuation notice to hundreds of residents as recent rain led to local rivers and lakes breaching their banks.

Evacuated residents can seek shelter at the Kenora Recreation Centre.

Matt Kennedy of Upriver Media took a drone above Essex Road and captured these stunning pictures below.

The City of Kenora is set to close East Melick Road at Essex Road at 11 a.m. this morning (Saturday, May 14, 2022) as water levels north of the Kenora by-pass continue to rise.

Residents who live in the area of the Portier bridge and southerly on East Melick Road (this includes Victoria Crescent, Decemvir Dr, Bell Point Road and residents to the east of this area) should also evacuate as water levels are expected to rise to a point where the East Melick and Essex Road area will become under water and potentially unstable.

As of 9:25 am Saturday, May 14:

At 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, East Melick Road will be closed at Essex Road.

East Melick Road is closed 600m north of the Portier bridge. 

Highway 658, North of Basket Lake Bridge, is fully closed due to water over the road.

The eastbound lane of Highway 17 A is closed at the Highway 17 junction due to erosion.

Flooding on HWY 71 Northbound at Mayburn Road has closed one lane. Traffic control is in place.

The City of Kenora has expanded the evacuation order for areas north of the by-pass.

Residents who live in the area of the Portier bridge and southerly on East Melick Road (this includes Victoria Crescent, Decemvir Dr, Bell Point Road and residents to the east of this area) should also evacuate as water levels are expected to rise to a point where the East Melick and Essex Road area will become under water and potentially unstable.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, East Melick Road will be closed at Essex Road.

The City of Kenora has issued an Evacuation Order for residents north of the by-pass for all roads north of the Portier bridge.

City crews are working on securing a corridor for safe passage out of this area between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today, Friday May 13th. Residents in this area are advised to gather the things they need and evacuate their homes before 6:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. the roads will be closed and there will be no exit or entry after this time and exits will be monitored by the OPP.

Northwestern Ontario does not need any more rain with washouts, flooding and evacuation notices in the area, but Environment Canada has more bad news in the forecast.

Meteorologist Gerald Cheng says showers and possible thunderstorms are expected to develop on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, to continue what’s been a rainy start to May.

As of 11:20 am Friday, May 13:

Nord road, just north of Pickle Lake at the Highway 599 junction has been closed due to flooding by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The ministry says the stretch that is closed is from the junction to kilometre marker 137 at Pineiumata River Bridge and marker 150 at Pipestone River Bridge.

The Ministry of Transportation is reporting Highway 105 is closed due to a washout, 44 kilometres north of the Highway 17 junction.